Alberta Grain Commission "Name Change"

[TOM4CWB]

Rockpile_

"But for you to
even suggest that the AGC was responsible for all
the good things relating to grain farming in AB is
way out there!!!"

If we choose to say the Minister of Ag... is responsible for AB Ag programs... it is hard to argue your favorite programs and benefits were from other than AG dept work and advice... which includes AGC work.

Owning 2-4wds and 2 combines means what? How much income do these produce each year... hours in the field?

Is your income from you actually growing and selling the grain you grew on your farm each year?

How exactly could a DA help more than the AB Ag call centre... I have found them to be very helpful... less insulting... and much more business oriented than the DA's were.

Specialists in AB Ag have done an excellent job assistance... and were a large step forward. People like Charlie have given endlessly and encouraged innovation and productivity cultures that clearly provided prosperity for those who would listen.

Trashing... one of the best Ag support systems in the universe... annoys me.

Go live/farm any where else... (you will find none better than what we are blessed with) then come back and suggest serious helpful improvements!

[Burbert]

4 Tom, Wow tommy, your true colors are coming through, mean spirited and name calling doesn't cut it. I may be ok fer the albertie pc's to follow such an m.o., butt fer you to start cuttin a rockpile to shreds, cause he's only got 2 4 x4 tracters and 2 combeans workin his dirt, and he's not a farmer, then he is running a heck of a hobbie farm, don't cha think? Or is it your way or the highway, sounds like yer echoin the Groaner, whoos now way back on they back benches........

[TOM4CWB]

Burbert;

'mean spirited and name calling doesn't cut it."

You just got caught.

[rockpile]

T4, BB, Stop the name calling! Yes T4, what do you
want, my tax returns? Damn rights my income was
(and is) from grain farming, plus off-farm work to
support the habit. From your aggressive and nasty
responses Tom, it hit me that you have to be one of
the 'chosen few' and were (is) on the AGC! And
don't slam my DA - he was good - maybe you had
a scud. Why was he better? He knew the area, the
soils, the climate, the most likely diseases in the
region, bugs, fertility, marketing, etc. etc and - he
used to come out to my farm, look around, assess
things, give advice and sometimes accolades. In
short, he was interested in what I was doing on a
personal level. Oooh, type that into the FAQ's.
By the way, T4, when are you going to burn your PC
membership card and come to grips with the reality
that political dynamics are changing in Alberta?
Will you eventually go ND, Lib or WA? Surely you
won't cling to the Titanic?
Rockpile

[TOM4CWB]

Rockpile,

"off-farm work to
support the habit"

Glad you said it.

Now... doesn't that feel better!?

Good to see you diversify your politics... by adding the 'WA' to the list!

Hmmmm... what might their stand be on the CWB?

So being thankful for the good work done by many... and not trashing them.... out of hand without real constructive reasons... makes me evil?

Hmmmm... It is easy for you and BB to be hiding behind an alias... while obviously everyone knows who I am!

There is a real and important principal behind being 'positive' and seeking constructive improvements. Some of us actually would like better opportunities for our sons and daughters who will/are farmers in ALberta!

[rockpile]

Tom, you are like the energizer bunny, you just go
on and on and on... Yeah, when I started out
farming in the early 70's with a young wife, (both
of us decided to give up our pursuits of
professional careers because we missed the sweet
smell of freshly turned soil in the spring, the smell
of grains ripening in the fall, and oddly enough
even the smell of diesel fumes) I did work off farm
in the winters, primarily in concrete construction.
Every penny went to either paying off student loans,
investing in our future or buying into and growing
the family farming operation. You scoff at this? I'll
bet there are a few AV listeners who understand
that if you have a dream and really want it, you
bloody well have to earn it. What, did you inherit
everything or win the lottery? Oh yes, you are a
'farm manager' and feel superior to so many
because you achieved this and that and got the
highest ever marketing score in Winnipeg - blah,
blah, blah! Well the fact is maybe, just maybe, you
also got a bit lucky. The sad fact is, luck has a way
of turning around sometimes. In the later years, I
used my spare time to work in other areas that
present value to rural communities, like with Gas
Co-ops, benefitting by not only offering the same
conveniences as our city cousins get, but in many
cases providing a competitive advantage in
business (irrigation and grain drying, greenhouses,
etc). And, oh by the way, perhaps because I was
able to provide some value to our 100,000 plus
customers, I got paid for my efforts (off farm
income, I guess). The fact is, farming was always
my primary source of income!
And, I guess you and I have a different vision of the
future for our children in Alberta - you see it as
carrying on the proud farming tradition, I see it as
providing the opportunities, the freedom and the
environment to do and succeed at what 'their'
dreams and ambitions are, not mine or yours. And
maybe sometimes it means going somewhere else
in the world to accomplish wider and greater things
than 'we' imagine.
Anyway, give it a rest, the AGC is completely
unnecessary and would have been a good place for
Norton to save a few bucks.
Rockpile

[rockpile]

Sorry, I hit the N instead of the M, as in Morton.
RP

[TOM4CWB]

Rockpile and Burbert,

All other issues aside... if the name alone is the issue... the word Council much better explains the functions and organisational functions they are expected to provide.

The Canadian Grain Commission is VERY different than the AGC... you must admit. I fail to see why this would/should offend you!

[Burbert]

The Alberta Grain Commission or Alberta Grains Council, whatever it wants to be called is, an example of a USELESS FARM GROUP. Unless you count jobs for PC buddies and burnt out farmers as USEFUL. To advise the Premier on farm issues of concern. For gosh sakes he has the entire Alberta Gag branch to do that, and doesn't need another opinion.... That's why I am pe'od about this sort of stupidity. Secret groups of select Alberties deciding the future of Alberties, sounds like the all noing all doing Amerikan CIA of Gag...

[TOM4CWB]

BUrbert;

Who should the AB Minister of Agriculture as... you and Rockpile?

If you were the Minister...and read what you write/wrote on Agriville... would you as ag minister ask Rockpile and Burbert for advice?